2 small pork butts or 1 big shoulder

[daveman92789]

I have a birthday party coming up & I'm bbqing 20lbs of pork. I don't really have 18+ hrs to cook this so I'm wondering if I get 2 - 10lbs pork butts if I could get it done faster than cooking a single 20lbs shoulder.

I have an offset stick burner I'll run around 250-275.

Thanks,

 

[TNJAKE]

Yes 2 10lb butts will cook faster than a 20lb shoulder.

 

[daveman92789]

I was thinking so I just wasn’t sure if 20lbs of meat would take the same amount of time regardless if it’s 1 piece of meat or broken out into 2.

 

[TNJAKE]

I was thinking so I just wasn’t sure if 20lbs of meat would take the same amount of time regardless if it’s 1 piece of meat or broken out into 2.

Nope cook time is based on size of individual cut. So if 2 butts weigh 10lbs each then plan on 10lb cook time. Doesn't matter how many you cook at once. As long as you dont over crowd the smoker. So with 2 10lb butts you are looking at roughly half the cook time of a 20lb shoulder.

 

[zwiller]

Yes 2 10lb butts will cook faster than a 20lb shoulder.

+1 and those 2 butts cut in half into 4 -5lb sections will cook even faster (and have more bark) Quite a few of us doing that now.

 

[thirdeye]

Looks like you got your answer, but I'm envious if you can get whole shoulders. I have to special order, and even then it's not a guarantee. But as you know there is magic in cooking 20 to 24 hours.

 

[daveman92789]

Looks like you got your answer, but I'm envious if you can get whole shoulders. I have to special order, and even then it's not a guarantee. But as you know there is magic in cooking 20 to 24 hours.

I can get a shoulder from IGA. They will sell you the whole hog or any cut that you want off the hog. It's the only grocery store around my area that I know handles whole animals. They are my go to for pork & beef fat when I process the deer I harvested. I'm not sure if they have the whole shoulder sitting out with all the other meats but I know you can call & ask for one.